Social innovation in Serbia: stimulation from the state is required

Social innovation in Serbia: stimulation from the state is required2015-05-032016-12-19http://euclidnetwork.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/logo-euclid-web.jpgEuclid Networkhttp://euclidnetwork.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/logo-euclid-web.jpg200px200px

We were proud to support the Social Innovation Forum 2015, organised by Euclid member Smart Kolektiv, and part of a wider initiative to promote and stimulate cross-sector cooperation and the development of sustainable and innovative civil society in Serbia.

The Social Innovation Forum is an annual event dedicated to innovative solutions for social challenges. Established in 2014, the Forum is part of Euclid member Smart Kolektiv’s agenda to promote social entrepreneurship in Serbia and acts as a tool for strengthening sustainability in the civil society sector.

Euclid Network were proud to support the Social Innovations Forum 2015 which is a part of a wider initiative to promote and stimulate cross-sector cooperation and the development of sustainable and innovative civil society in Serbia, carried out by Smart Kolektiv with support from USAID. Friends of the conference were Coca-Cola Hellenic and Atlantic Group, with conference partners including ourselves, SENS Network, and Global Social Entrepreneurship Network (GSEN).

As the biggest event for social entrepreneurship in Serbia, the Social Innovations Forum presented existing policies, opportunities for cooperation between social enterprises and the business sector, support programs, successful social enterprises and innovative practices in this area.

The main conclusion of this year’s Social Innovations Forum is that social enterprises require stimulation from the state, which should adopt a systematic approach in supporting them. This is already the case for some European countries, where special regulations and public policy documents exist to support social entrepreneurship. It is necessary to provide a favourable environment for their advancement, which implies the promotion of social entrepreneurship, improvement of legal framework, finance, enabling market access, as well as support for training and research in the area of social entrepreneurship.